How the Beloved attracts the lover in such wise that the lover neither knows it nor hopes for it, nor does it occur to his mind, nor does any trace of that attraction appear in the lover except the fear that is mingled with despair, though he still perseveres in the quest.

آمدیم اینجا که در صدر جهان ** گر نبودی جذب آن عاشق نهان

We came to this point (in the tale), that if the attraction of that lover had not been hidden in the Sadr-i Jahán,

ناشکیباکی بدی او از فراق ** کی دوان باز آمدی سوی وثاق

How would he (the lover) have been impatient of separation, and how would he have come running back to his home?

میل معشوقان نهانست و ستیر ** میل عاشق با دو صد طبل و نفیر

The desire of loved ones is hidden and veiled; the desire of the lover is (accompanied) with a hundred drums and trumpets.

یک حکایت هست اینجا ز اعتبار ** لیک عاجز شد بخاری ز انتظار

Here is (the place for) a story (worthy) of consideration, but the man of Bukhárá has become desperate from waiting expectantly;

ترک آن کردیم کو در جست و جوست ** تاکه پیش از مرگ بیند روی دوست4605

(So) we omit it, for he is (engaged) in search and seeking, that before death he may see the face of his beloved,

تا رهد از مرگ تا یابد نجات ** زانک دید دوستست آب حیات

To the end that he may escape from death and gain deliverance, because the sight of the beloved is the Water of Life.

هر که دید او نباشد دفع مرگ ** دوست نبود که نه میوه‌ستش نه برگ

Any one the sight of whom does not repel death is not the beloved, for he hath neither fruit nor leaf.

کار آن کارست ای مشتاق مست ** کاندر آن کار ار رسد مرگت خوشست

The (essential) matter, O intoxicated longing lover, is that matter in which death, if it befall thee, is sweet.

شد نشان صدق ایمان ای جوان ** آنک آید خوش ترا مرگ اندر آن

O youth, the token of sincerity of faith is that (matter) in which death comes sweet to thee.

گر نشد ایمان تو ای جان چنین ** نیست کامل رو بجو اکمال دین4610

If thy faith, O (dear) soul, is not like this, it is not perfect: go, seek to make (thy) religion perfect.

هر که اندر کار تو شد مرگ‌دوست ** بر دل تو بی کراهت دوست اوست

Whosoever would fain die for thy sake willingly and agreeably to thy heart's desire, without dislike, he is (thy) true lover.

چون کراهت رفت آن خود مرگ نیست ** صورت مرگست و نقلان کردنیست

When dislike is gone, verily ‘tis not death: ‘tis (only) the semblance of death, and (in reality) ‘tis a migration.

چون کراهت رفت مردن نفع شد ** پس درست آید که مردن دفع شد

When dislike is gone, dying becomes advantageous; hence it comes true that death is repelled.

دوست حقست و کسی کش گفت او ** که توی آن من و من آن تو

The beloved is God and the person to whom He hath said, “Thou art Mine and I am thine.”

گوش دار اکنون که عاشق می‌رسد ** بسته عشق او را به حبل من مسد4615

Now listen, for the lover is coming whom Love bound with a cord of palm-fibre.

چون بدید او چهره‌ی صدر جهان ** گوییا پریدش از تن مرغ جان

When he beheld the countenance of the Sadr-i Jahán, you might say the bird, his spirit, flew out of his body.

همچو چوب خشک افتاد آن تنش ** سرد شد از فرق جان تا ناخنش

His body fell like dry wood: his vital spirit became cold from the crown of his head to his toes.

هرچه کردند از بخور و از گلاب ** نه بجنبید و نه آمد در خطاب

Whatsoever they applied of incense and rose-water, he neither stirred nor spoke.

شاه چون دید آن مزعفر روی او ** پس فرود آمد ز مرکب سوی او

When the King saw his saffron-coloured (pallid) face, he dismounted from his steed (and came) towards him.

گفت عاشق دوست می‌جوید بتفت ** چونک معشوق آمد آن عاشق برفت4620

He said, “The lover hotly seeks the beloved: when the beloved comes, the lover is gone.”

عاشق حقی و حق آنست کو ** چون بیاید نبود از تو تای مو

Thou art a lover of God, and God is such that when He comes there is not a single hair of thee (remaining).

صد چو تو فانیست پیش آن نظر ** عاشقی بر نفی خود خواجه مگر

At that look (of His) a hundred like thee vanish away: me-thinks, sire, thou art in love with self-naughting .

سایه‌ای و عاشقی بر آفتاب ** شمس آید سایه لا گردد شتاب

Thou art a shadow and in love with the sun: the sun comes, the shadow is naughted speedily.

داد خواستن پشه از باد به حضرت سلیمان علیه السلام

How, in the presence of Solomon, on whom be peace, the gnat appealed for justice against the Wind.

پشه آمد از حدیقه وز گیاه ** وز سلیمان گشت پشه دادخواه

The gnat came from the garden and the grass, and the gnat began to demand justice from Solomon,

کای سلیمان معدلت می‌گستری ** بر شیاطین و آدمی‌زاد و پری4625

Saying, “O Solomon, thou dealest out justice to the devils and the children of men and the Jinn.

مرغ و ماهی در پناه عدل تست ** کیست آن گم‌گشته کش فضلت نجست

Bird and fish are under the protection of thy justice: who is the lost one whom thy bounty hath not sought out?

داد ده ما را که بس زاریم ما ** بی‌نصیب از باغ و گلزاریم ما

Give justice to us, for we are very miserable: we are deprived of the orchard and the rose-garden.

مشکلات هر ضعیفی از تو حل ** پشه باشد در ضعیفی خود مثل

The difficulties of every weakling are solved by thee: the gnat in sooth is the (proverbial) similitude for weakness.

شهره ما در ضعف و اشکسته‌پری ** شهره تو در لطف و مسکین‌پروری

We are celebrated for weakness and frailty: thou art celebrated for kindness and care of the lowly.

ای تو در اطباق قدرت منتهی ** منتهی ما در کمی و بی‌رهی4630

O thou who hast reached the limit in (traversing) the stages of Power, (while) we have reached the limit in failure and aberration,

داد ده ما را ازین غم کن جدا ** دست گیر ای دست تو دست خدا

Do justice, relieve us from this sorrow, take our hand (to help us), O thou whose hand is the hand of God.”